Shuckers

Best known as an aphrodisiac, oysters have remained unchanged for centuries and are often regarded as the perfect raw food. To many of us, an oyster is just a slimy, gooey creature, smiling up at us from its half shell, but there is a group of people out there, that see so much more…

Often regarded as the rock stars of the shellfish industry, oyster shuckers are a breed of their own. So passionate about their craft that festivals and shucking competitions have sprung up all over the world, often in the guise of booze filled out of control parties where the oyster is the main attraction.

When Montreal restaurateur, Tim Rozon (Garde Manger, Le Bremner) asks the question: What’s the big deal with oysters? He is given more than he bargained for from champion oyster shucker Daniel Notkin. Together the pair set out on the road to Oyster restaurants, festivals and farms to meet the craziest, most eccentric oyster shuckers (Rodney Clark, John Bil, Patrick MacMurray) restaurateurs (Chuck Hughes), and oystermen in the business.

As Tim and Daniel travel to the oyster Mecca in eastern Canada, through farms along the eastern US and fishing boats in The gulf of Mexico they will soon discover there’s a lot more to these weird little creatures than meets the eye.